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DETROIT – Unlike many teachers during their summer break, Ray Schultz didn't take a vacation this year, find a temporary job or continue his own education. He's actually doing all three, at the same time no less, with the added bonus of hanging out four nights a week with eight naked men.
How cool is that?
A New York native who earned his master's degree and doctorate in theater at Wayne State University, Schultz returned to Michigan this summer from the University of Minnesota, Morris, where he serves as an assistant professor of theater to tackle the challenging role of accountant Mason Marzac in Performance Network's sizzling production of "Take Me Out."
"For me, it was like a dream come true," the actor told BTL last week. "I saw the play when it was in New York and I read it, and I told my partner, Roger, that I'd die to do this play, either acting in it or directing it. I just thought it was a really significant piece of theater."
So when he learned that "Take Me Out" was the final show of Performance Network's 2004/05 season, Schultz contacted director Jim Posante. "I'd worked with him before, so he and Carla [Milarch, the Network's artistic director] had me come out and audition."
He won the role, of course, and arrived in June to begin rehearsals.
"As an actor, to get a chance to do a gay role that is so multifaceted and not stereotypical is really wonderful," Schultz said. "The character, to me, is both naive and very wise, and he's cynical but kind of innocent. Plus, I think it's a wonderful play in that the character that the audience most identifies with, the typically straight audience member, is the gay character. I can't help but think that [playwright] Richard Greenberg did that on purpose."
Tackling a role that earned Detroit native Dennis O'Hare a 2003 Tony Award was a little daunting, Schultz admits. "He was absolutely brilliant in the part. So there was a little bit of that intimidation factor. But all I can say is that it's a part on a page, so I had to try to find my own voice and way with it. And I think I have."
Local theater critics, including this one, agreed, citing his performance as one of the play's highlights. "I'm just thrilled. It's a terrific play," he said.

Teaching the teacher

Secluded in rural Minnesota near the Dakota borders, Schultz isn't able to practice his craft in that state's vibrant professional theater community during the school year. So by taking advantage of summertime opportunities, Shultz says, he keeps his skills sharp. And it's a philosophy that his university encourages. "They sort of expect its instructors to go out and practice their discipline."
His experience with "Take Me Out," however, has been especially instructive. After only a few weeks of rehearsal, director Posante suffered a heart attack and was replaced by Tony Caselli. "It gave me a lot of perspective on going with the flow, and that's what I try to teach my students," Schultz said. "When I direct there, I definitely design to teach both theater and the broader lessons of life, which I think is sort of the mission of a liberal arts school."
It's a lesson his students observed first hand when a controversy arose surrounding the children's theater production of "Cootie Shots" Schultz directed this past spring. "It's a really delightful little piece that addresses tolerance and diversity issues," Schultz said. "Despite the fact that I was trying to be sensitive to the community's feelings, it sort of caused a huge ruckus in terms of the content of the show being interpreted as having a 'gay agenda.' It was a stressful, but ultimately, a good experience."
And one that won't discourage him from tackling other important social issues in the classroom.
"Part of the whole college educational process is teaching the students how to think for themselves, and to do that, you have to introduce potentially controversial material. So I don't think I would ever shy away from doing controversial material."
Schultz, who spent a decade in Metro Detroit and met his life partner here in 1989 while both were at the Hilberry, couldn't be more satisfied with his summer 'vacation.' "I really am pleased that Performance Network chose to produce ["Take Me Out"]. It's certainly one of the best plays in the past five years. It's just so well written!"

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